Why You Should Vote

The Event Last Week That Should Make Christians Vote

This past week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a troubling ruling in the case of National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Harris. The court ruled that all crisis pregnancy centers, even faith-based ones, must inform each of their clients about how to obtain a free abortion from the state.

In other words, faith-based crisis pregnancy centers are being forced to promote abortions, even though doing so violates their religious beliefs. It undermines the entire purpose of their clinics, which is to promote the sanctity of human life.

This ruling is a thinly-veiled attempt to require all of us to declare allegiance to the unfettered right to abortion, to recite the creed of the culture of death at the expense of our conscience and our God. This is not justice; this is coercion. What has happened here is a harbinger of dark days ahead, for the future of religious liberty as well as the lives of the unborn. I am left wondering: Is there any limit to what the government can compel Christians to say or do?

This decision underscores the vast importance of our nation’s court system—starting but not stopping with the Supreme Court. The judiciary impacts nearly every aspect of our society. Federal judges, like those on the 9th circuit who made this dreadful decision, serve life terms. They are unelected and cannot be removed. So as citizens, the best way for us to influence the system is to choose a president who will nominate conservative justices and judges who will interpret the law by the Constitution and not political correctness.

Christians need to consider this as they head to the polls in November. In an election season that has been so chaotic—with most of the focus revolving around the candidates’ vices and indiscretions—it can become easy to lose sight of these issues, the real issues that our country is facing.

We cannot sit at home and watch our nation burn. As someone once said, “To sin by silence when [we] should protest makes cowards of men.” I urge you not to be silent, but to make your voice heard by voting November 8, 2016.

Helpful Links

Welcome to First Baptist Dallas! Our mission is to transform the world with God's Word...one life at a time. We are a church with a legacy that is built on the Bible, and we continue that legacy today. With multiple service times and options, as well as age group Sunday School classes, we have something for everyone. Join us on Sundays in person or online beginning at 9:15am.